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~Chapter 37~
“How dare you say you tried to use the heir of the Grand Duke’s family?”
Eugenia strode over and blocked their way fiercely.
“Eugenia. This isn’t your business.”
“No! Dane, before I’m your relative, I’m your vassal!”
Eugenia pulled the wooden sword at her side.
“Our Dunburton family is the right hand of the Grand Duke. If someone dares to make light of the young lord, I have to judge them.”
“Eugenia!”
“…Such loyalty. It must be nice to have a woman like that by your side, Dane.”
“What?!”
That was an insult to both Eugenia and Dane.
Eugenia hated anyone doubting her loyalty, even in the original story. And Dane had just confessed to Camilla.
“This—!”
“Eugenia!”
It all happened so fast.
The moment Eugenia swung her sword, Dane jumped in front of Camilla.
Luckily, Eugenia stopped as soon as Dane got in the way.
But the fact that she almost attacked Dane didn’t change.
Eugenia’s face turned pale as she shouted,
“W-what are you doing?!”
“…What are you doing? Since when do you use a sword?”
“That’s—!”
Eugenia was flustered, worried someone from her family had found out about her hobby.
“…Haha.”
With a dry laugh, both their eyes turned to Camilla. She whispered with a crooked smile,
“The sword meant to protect the Grand Duke’s house almost stabbed its master. What a sight.”
“You…!”
Eugenia’s body shook as she raised her hand again. But Dane caught her wrist.
Eugenia burst out in anger.
“I never should have trusted someone like you, who came here to seduce the young lord! Forget about going to the café! Get lost!”
Camilla stared at Eugenia, then whispered slowly,
“See, Dane?”
Camilla stepped back, as if a giant gap had opened between her and Dane.
“Maybe you want me, but the people around you will never accept me.”
With that, Camilla smiled softly and turned away.
Dane felt his heart sink. He was about to let go of Eugenia and go after Camilla, but Eugenia grabbed him with all her strength.
“Don’t go, Dane!”
“Let go!”
“I told you, I’m your vassal! If you can’t make the right decision, it’s my duty to stop you!”
No.
Dane could tell.
That’s not her real feeling. Something must have changed inside her for her to act like this.
But while he was held by Eugenia, Camilla disappeared.
“Carrie, is this the carriage?”
“Oh, miss!”
Carrie was waiting for Camilla by the carriage in front of the mansion.
Two knights were also there, as the Grand Duchess promised.
When Camilla thanked Carrie for everything, Carrie hugged her tightly, even with tears in her eyes.
“Please forgive me! But I’m just so, so sad that you’re leaving…!”
“Thank you for saying that.”
“P-please take this, miss.”
Carrie pulled something out and put it in Camilla’s hand—a rusty, wing-shaped necklace.
“It’s from a thug who followed my little brother… I thought it might help you.”
‘…This is…’
Camilla’s eyes widened. She knew what this meant.
It was a token from a mercenary group in the original story. Was Carrie’s brother part of that group?
It wasn’t a powerful group, but Camilla could feel Carrie’s care.
“It’s like a sign given to family. They say if you have it, you’ll be lucky… I thought it would be best if you had it.”
“Thank you.”
“I… I never told you, but you’re the same age as my brother, so… so I felt closer to you. I hope we meet again.”
“Yes, Carrie. See you next time.”
With those words, Camilla got into the carriage.
The knights took the front, and Camilla sat in the back, closing her eyes.
She covered her mouth and cried quietly so no one would hear.
Her shoulders shook.
‘I’m sorry, Eugenia. I’m sorry, Dane.’
Getting closer to them and changing the story any further would only make things worse.
The story was already ruined beyond fixing, but she couldn’t add any more changes.
More than that,
‘I can’t take it anymore.’
She wanted to stand by Dane.
But with her real identity, that was only a dream.
There was no benefit for Eugenia to be close to her, either.
‘I have to run away anyway.’
So making more friends would only hurt her.
‘If I find Nina, I’ll just focus on escaping. I should’ve done that from the start. Stupid me.’
At that moment—
Neigh!
The horses whinnied anxiously, and the carriage stopped.
“Stay here, miss.”
One of the knights went outside. But there was an odd, heavy silence.
Soon, thud, there was a sound, and the other knight drew his sword and stood up.
“Please wait here.”
As he slowly opened the carriage door—
His eyes widened.
“Ugh!”
“…!”
Camilla’s eyes also grew wide. There was a sword stuck right in the middle of the knight’s chest.
At the tip of the sword, a blade came in through the carriage door.
Slash!
The sword pulled out, and blood splattered onto the seat. The knight died without a sound.
Camilla watched the body collapse, reaching into her pocket.
She grabbed a vial of instant paralysis drug.
“Hey, get up.”
As soon as she heard the stranger’s voice, she tried to throw the drug.
If only that voice hadn’t been so familiar.
“You…”
Camilla faced the attacker. His face was hidden, but his eyes were familiar.
Those eyes, shining wickedly.
In his hand was a sword with the crossed blades and wolf emblem—the symbol of House Everitt.
‘Ares!’
Ares, pretending to be from House Everitt, grabbed Camilla’s wrist to frame them for killing the Grand Duke’s knights.
Pain and a chilling voice at her neck.
“Long time no see, you damn brat.”
The vial rolled on the seat, unused.
That was Camilla’s last memory in the carriage.
Crash!
Dane’s ink bottle dropped to the floor and shattered. The black ink stained the carpet, but Dane didn’t care and whispered,
“The knights who were escorting Camilla… they haven’t come back?”
“…Yes, that’s right. They should have reported back yesterday, but there’s been no news.”
“Why are you telling me this now?!”
When Dane found out Camilla was missing, he jumped up in alarm.
He went straight to the Grand Duke.
But the Grand Duke was already meeting someone else.
“Y-your Grace… How could this happen?!”
A Baron, looking shabby, was begging with clenched teeth.
“It was found right next to the wrecked carriage! Look! It’s obvious Everitt did this!”
He pointed to a sword with the crossed blades and wolf emblem of House Everitt.
“…Hmm, do you really believe House Everitt would attack and leave their own emblem behind?”
“Of course! Those fanatics are so proud of their house, they’d never hide it!”
The Baron’s eyes glimmered strangely as he spoke.
“Not only my daughters, but they even dared to attack the Grand Duke’s knights!”
At those words, the Grand Duke’s face grew grim.
“Everitt’s arrogance has gone too far! Please, please help me find my daughters!”
When Dane realized Camilla was missing, he couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Father.”
“Oh, Dane.”
Dane spoke with dark eyes.
“Please give me the authority to lead the knights. I will question House Everitt myself.”
